All may be aware the RDOS has come out with a mass notification system to issue emergency alerts for residents who sign up for it. The system enables the RDOS to send out "urgent emergency notifications and public safety communications" to subscribed residents. Alerts can be sent by email, text message and text-to-voice alerts to landlines, and will be sent to residents in specific Electoral areas. Anarchist Mtn is in Electoral A and the system is available to us.Sidley Mtn is in Kootney-Boundary. Electoral A boundaries are: US boarder to the south, Oliver to the north, East of Osoyoos to the East and 9 Mile Place to the west.

The Emergency Notification System (ENCom), established for Anarchist Mountain and Sidley Mountain, will still be in effect as it provides very specific information for our mountains, i.e. the subdivisions that are in immediate danger and those that are on stand by. Also, with the area Phone Trees we have "neighbours helping neighbours".

For subdivisions that do not receive an ENCom notification on an emergency in our area means they are not in immediate danger and information will be posted on the AMFD web site and social media channels.

KAMLOOPS - Effective at noon on May 15, 2018, the size of open fires will be restricted at elevations below 1,200 metres throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect the public.

Anyone conducting Category 2 or Category 3 burns in those areas must extinguish their fires by the deadline. This prohibition will remain in effect until Oct. 15, 2018, or until further notice. A poster explaining the different categories of open burning is available online at: ow.ly/znny309kJv5

* the burning of more than two open fires of any size at the same time

* stubble or grass fires of any size over any area

* the use of fireworks, sky lanterns, tiki torches (and similar kinds of torches), or burning barrels and cages of any size or description

* the use of binary exploding targets.

This prohibition does not ban campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide (or smaller), and does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.

This prohibition covers all B.C. parks, Crown lands and private lands in the Kamloops Fire Centre, but it does not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has forest fire protection bylaws in place and is serviced by a fire department. Before lighting any fire, residents should check with local government authorities for any other restrictions before lighting any fire.

Where Category 2 or Category 3 burns are still allowed, always check the venting conditions before conducting an open burn. If venting conditions are rated "poor" or "fair", open burning is restricted. The venting index can be found at: www.bcairquality.ca/readings/ventilation-index.html

Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

The Kamloops Fire Centre would like to thank the public for its continued help in preventing wildfires. Report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation by calling 1 800 663-5555 toll-free, or *5555 on a cellphone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to www.bcwildfire.ca